Re: Achalasia and Me

[Guest guest]

wow, dave! Your descriptions are so vivid and thorough. It's so funny

how different we all are...the LAST thing I could tolerate during a

spasm would be a coke! So glad you found something that works for you.

I have been told that if I have reflux, I will be able to get relief

from nexium or something, and that most of his patients don't have

reflux...at least not after healing. I'd take that though, if it means

I can swallow again without pain, eat and talk to friends at the same

time (I know what you mean about the social thing..), and not choke at

night. I worry about aspiration pneumonia, which is a NASTY problem and

can be very serious. I will either be back with bells on or be back and

waiting to get over the healing part and in reserve with my opinions

about my surgery until I have healed. I know to be patient and I expect

to have to deal with something new...what? We'll see...cross that

bridge when and if we come to it. I am in a state of " trust

fall " ...godspeed to me, eh?

[Guest guest]

I particularly loved the way you described your spasms...like the first

chord of " a day in the life " ....PERFECT! When did you think of THAT???

What do you do for a living? Are you a musician, creative type?

THat description is really " out there " , but so accurate! I love it.

[Guest guest]

Hi Dave,

Wow! Another Coca Cola story! You are one of many I have read about who

get relief from Coke. Before my myotomy, it made me throw up! Everyone

is so different. Still, you should seriously consider having a myotomy.

You are 63 and surgery is harder on the body the older we get. Why wait

until surgery is no longer an option for you? The older you grow living

with Achalasia, the greater your chances are of suffering from

malnutrition. I, too, was afraid of more acid reflux after surgery,

which unfortunately, I did get after the surgery that I just had this

past Halloween. But now, four weeks later, with medication, the acid

reflux has " calmed down. " In addition to the myotomy, I had a partial

wrap done, which I think fixes the flap that allows acid to wash up into

the esophagus causing severe pain. My surgeon did not want to do a full

wrap because he said it would defeat the purpose of the myotomy and not

allow food to drop into the stomach easily. Anyway, it's only been 4

weeks, but so far, so good. Believe me, it is such a relief not to have

to do disgusting things to get the food out of your esophagus. I no

longer have to wait for everyone to clear out of the restroom at work so

I can puke. I don't have to throw up every night before I go to bed

anymore to clear my esophagus so I don't wake up choking. I can go out

to lunch with co-workers without having to order only soup and a large

glass of warm water because that was the least embarrassing thing to get

down in public. I no longer make gurgling noises in my office cube at

work while trying to wash down my lunch with bottles of water. My only

fear is that my symptoms will return as they have for some others. My

surgeon said they shouldn't return, but as you've read here, some people

have experienced a return of symptoms. Still, I think the myotomy was

worth it. It wasn't too painful. Drugs make it tolerable. Having a baby

hurts a hell of a lot more! So does a bout with acid reflux or a spasm.

Just don't wait too long. ly, I don't know how you lived with it

for so long. I lived with it for four years (although I've had reflux

for much longer) and I couldn't stand it anymore.

Good luck, Dave. Let us know how you're doing.

Pam

rdross wrote:

>

> Hello,

>

> I have been reading the entries in this forum for a few weeks now

> hoping to find someone with my same symptoms.

>

> I have achalasia and have been suffering and coping with it for years.

> I am 63, retired and otherwise in excellent health.

>

> I first experienced heartburns after leaving Vietnam in 1968. After

> seeing a local doctor at that time , I was told it was due to stress

> and I should take Mylanta and Tums for relief. I did this at first,

> but it seemed to take too long before I felt any relief. I discovered

> that drinking a coca cola gave me immediate relief. The cold liquid

> eliminates the pain almost immediately. The pain comes at any time and

> cannot be predicted. The best way I can describe the pain is if you

> are familiar with the Beatles song " A Day In The Life " ; at the very

> end of the song there is a chord that is struck that is very loud at

> the beginning , lasts for sometime and fades until you cannot hear it.

> If you visualize that chord in reverse that would describe my pain.

> When I feel the slightest pain coming on, I immediately drink cold

> cola. At times I will have to take several swallows. But what a

> feeling of relief! Any time I travel, I carry a cold can with me. My

> other symptom is difficulty swallowing. I never know if the food is

> going to go down until I swallow my first bite. As I eat, I straighten

> up in the chair try to belch and then able to eat more. When the food

> won?t go down, I will know it after the second or third swallow. I

> will then have to leave the table, stand over the sink and spit up

> saliva and try to force belching. I can?t even swallow water when this

> occurs. It is painful when this occurs and the spitting of saliva will

> last for a half hour or so. Sometimes I can feel the food going

> through the chest area and through the lower esophagus and empty into

> the stomach. At this time, I am thinking when I should take the next

> step, which is going to the bathroom and sticking a finger down my

> throat. This will bring up large and small bubbles of saliva but no

> food. I do this several times until I can?t bring up anything more.

> This whole process lasts anywhere from one to three hours, but

> eventually the food will flow through. I?m very uncomfortable during

> this time. Since I have no idea what foods to avoid, I eat everything.

> The last occurrence was a week ago when I sat down for a plate of

> spaghetti. I have been having " blockage " about once a week and have

> gone as long as a month without an occurrence. I am able to sleep at

> night except when I lay on my left side. When I lay down, at times I

> feel I need to belch but can only do so if lying on my right side. I

> sleep on my back and hope to remain in that position throughout the

> night. Sometimes I will awake during the night and have to immediately

> sit up to stop from choking. This occurs when I have been lying on my

> left side. I never vomit, just feel something coming up to my throat.

>

> In 1982, after losing some weight I was concerned and went to see a

> Doctor who suspected Achalasia. After several tests, Achalasia was

> confirmed and a dilation was performed. The next day I was able to

> swallow and felt much better. Difficulty to swallow returned after

> about a month. I coped with this until 1988 when I had another

> dilation. Difficulty swallowing returned after only two weeks. I was

> not told that there was not any other treatment at that time, and

> rather than more dilations, I decided to cope with my problem. I had

> several embarrassing situations over the years, especially when dining

> out and not being able to talk while at social functions. In 1997 I

> had all the tests performed again. During the EG, photographs had been

> taken that showed food settled in my esophagus. A myotomy was

> recommended at that time. Once again, I decided to cope with my

> problem. Since I had relocated to my present location , four weeks ago

> I decided to check with a local Gastroenterology Doctor to inquire

> whether there was some kind of medication that I could take to open

> the lower esophagus and allow food to flow. Somehow I thought perhaps

> there was some miracle pill discovered in the meantime. Again I went

> through all the tests to include for the first time the 24 RH. I was

> told once again that I should have a Myotomy performed, since a

> dilation would only be a temporary solution.

>

> I still have not read all the post in this forum, but I now realize

> that some of you have more severe problems with Achalasia than I do.

> I?m very hesitant about the Myotomy surgery, since I have been told

> that I may have more reflux after surgery. I am concerned about that

> and wonder if I will be able to get the relief that Coca Cola now

> provides.

>

> Right now I don?t know what I am going to do. Probably will continue

> to cope and avoid the surgery as long as I can since I am not losing

> weight at this time.

>

>

>

> Dave

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thresher talkng to people like you have convinced me to have the surgery ,3

more days ,cant wait ,thanks again ,Ron

Re: Achalasia and Me

> Hi Dave,

> Wow! Another Coca Cola story! You are one of many I have read about who

> get relief from Coke. Before my myotomy, it made me throw up! Everyone

> is so different. Still, you should seriously consider having a myotomy.

> You are 63 and surgery is harder on the body the older we get. Why wait

> until surgery is no longer an option for you? The older you grow living

> with Achalasia, the greater your chances are of suffering from

> malnutrition. I, too, was afraid of more acid reflux after surgery,

> which unfortunately, I did get after the surgery that I just had this

> past Halloween. But now, four weeks later, with medication, the acid

> reflux has " calmed down. " In addition to the myotomy, I had a partial

> wrap done, which I think fixes the flap that allows acid to wash up into

> the esophagus causing severe pain. My surgeon did not want to do a full

> wrap because he said it would defeat the purpose of the myotomy and not

> allow food to drop into the stomach easily. Anyway, it's only been 4

> weeks, but so far, so good. Believe me, it is such a relief not to have

> to do disgusting things to get the food out of your esophagus. I no

> longer have to wait for everyone to clear out of the restroom at work so

> I can puke. I don't have to throw up every night before I go to bed

> anymore to clear my esophagus so I don't wake up choking. I can go out

> to lunch with co-workers without having to order only soup and a large

> glass of warm water because that was the least embarrassing thing to get

> down in public. I no longer make gurgling noises in my office cube at

> work while trying to wash down my lunch with bottles of water. My only

> fear is that my symptoms will return as they have for some others. My

> surgeon said they shouldn't return, but as you've read here, some people

> have experienced a return of symptoms. Still, I think the myotomy was

> worth it. It wasn't too painful. Drugs make it tolerable. Having a baby

> hurts a hell of a lot more! So does a bout with acid reflux or a spasm.

> Just don't wait too long. ly, I don't know how you lived with it

> for so long. I lived with it for four years (although I've had reflux

> for much longer) and I couldn't stand it anymore.

> Good luck, Dave. Let us know how you're doing.

> Pam

>

>

>

> rdross wrote:

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > I have been reading the entries in this forum for a few weeks now

> > hoping to find someone with my same symptoms.

> >

> > I have achalasia and have been suffering and coping with it for years.

> > I am 63, retired and otherwise in excellent health.

> >

> > I first experienced heartburns after leaving Vietnam in 1968. After

> > seeing a local doctor at that time , I was told it was due to stress

> > and I should take Mylanta and Tums for relief. I did this at first,

> > but it seemed to take too long before I felt any relief. I discovered

> > that drinking a coca cola gave me immediate relief. The cold liquid

> > eliminates the pain almost immediately. The pain comes at any time and

> > cannot be predicted. The best way I can describe the pain is if you

> > are familiar with the Beatles song " A Day In The Life " ; at the very

> > end of the song there is a chord that is struck that is very loud at

> > the beginning , lasts for sometime and fades until you cannot hear it.

> > If you visualize that chord in reverse that would describe my pain.

> > When I feel the slightest pain coming on, I immediately drink cold

> > cola. At times I will have to take several swallows. But what a

> > feeling of relief! Any time I travel, I carry a cold can with me. My

> > other symptom is difficulty swallowing. I never know if the food is

> > going to go down until I swallow my first bite. As I eat, I straighten

> > up in the chair try to belch and then able to eat more. When the food

> > won?t go down, I will know it after the second or third swallow. I

> > will then have to leave the table, stand over the sink and spit up

> > saliva and try to force belching. I can?t even swallow water when this

> > occurs. It is painful when this occurs and the spitting of saliva will

> > last for a half hour or so. Sometimes I can feel the food going

> > through the chest area and through the lower esophagus and empty into

> > the stomach. At this time, I am thinking when I should take the next

> > step, which is going to the bathroom and sticking a finger down my

> > throat. This will bring up large and small bubbles of saliva but no

> > food. I do this several times until I can?t bring up anything more.

> > This whole process lasts anywhere from one to three hours, but

> > eventually the food will flow through. I?m very uncomfortable during

> > this time. Since I have no idea what foods to avoid, I eat everything.

> > The last occurrence was a week ago when I sat down for a plate of

> > spaghetti. I have been having " blockage " about once a week and have

> > gone as long as a month without an occurrence. I am able to sleep at

> > night except when I lay on my left side. When I lay down, at times I

> > feel I need to belch but can only do so if lying on my right side. I

> > sleep on my back and hope to remain in that position throughout the

> > night. Sometimes I will awake during the night and have to immediately

> > sit up to stop from choking. This occurs when I have been lying on my

> > left side. I never vomit, just feel something coming up to my throat.

> >

> > In 1982, after losing some weight I was concerned and went to see a

> > Doctor who suspected Achalasia. After several tests, Achalasia was

> > confirmed and a dilation was performed. The next day I was able to

> > swallow and felt much better. Difficulty to swallow returned after

> > about a month. I coped with this until 1988 when I had another

> > dilation. Difficulty swallowing returned after only two weeks. I was

> > not told that there was not any other treatment at that time, and

> > rather than more dilations, I decided to cope with my problem. I had

> > several embarrassing situations over the years, especially when dining

> > out and not being able to talk while at social functions. In 1997 I

> > had all the tests performed again. During the EG, photographs had been

> > taken that showed food settled in my esophagus. A myotomy was

> > recommended at that time. Once again, I decided to cope with my

> > problem. Since I had relocated to my present location , four weeks ago

> > I decided to check with a local Gastroenterology Doctor to inquire

> > whether there was some kind of medication that I could take to open

> > the lower esophagus and allow food to flow. Somehow I thought perhaps

> > there was some miracle pill discovered in the meantime. Again I went

> > through all the tests to include for the first time the 24 RH. I was

> > told once again that I should have a Myotomy performed, since a

> > dilation would only be a temporary solution.

> >

> > I still have not read all the post in this forum, but I now realize

> > that some of you have more severe problems with Achalasia than I do.

> > I?m very hesitant about the Myotomy surgery, since I have been told

> > that I may have more reflux after surgery. I am concerned about that

> > and wonder if I will be able to get the relief that Coca Cola now

> > provides.

> >

> > Right now I don?t know what I am going to do. Probably will continue

> > to cope and avoid the surgery as long as I can since I am not losing

> > weight at this time.

> >

> >

> >

> > Dave

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I'm glad to hear you're going to go for the surgery too...you've been

living with so much to cope with. TOday's my day. This group is

awesome!!!!! Thank you, everyone...I leave for the hospital at 8, have

surgery at 11:00 today!!!!!! Onwards and upwards!!! I slept pretty good

last night...listened to Beethoven with ocean bacground sounds for

thirty minutes before going to sleep last night. I am taking healing

music and my cd player with me to the hospital, too. I only woke up

choking once and thought to myself...maybe this is the last night to do

this...I know it is, hallelujah! If all goes well,you will hear

SOMETHING from me on Wednesday, when I come home. Your thoughts and

prayers are all going with me. I'm one of you all now!

Love,

[Guest guest]

, just a note to let you know I am thinking

about you. The surgery should be over by now and

I hope you will be more than pleased about your

decision. No, I have not had the surgery yet, so

I hope to hear good things from you. I have had a

dilatation and while it is not completely satisfactory,

it is a lot better right now.

I had to smile when you mentioned taking your CD

player to the hospital with you. I have been in

the hospital a couple of times in the past few years

and I took with me my laptop computer. The doctors

and nurses seem to think it is quite amusing, but I never

leave home without it..

Look forward to hearing from you on Wednesday.

Magg

[Guest guest]

Dear : Hooray! I'm so happy that everything went well! Don't rush back

to work - you had major surgery. Just chill out and let your body heal

itself after the surgery. Warm regards, Elena

[Guest guest]

I AM SO HAPPY!!!!! I AM NOT IN ANY PAIN, AND I CAN SWALLOW EGGS AND

BREAD WITH VERY LITTLE WATER TO FOLLOW! Ok...now I'll stop shouting.

I think my doctor is a genius. I am home now...left the hospital

exactly 24 hours after surgery. Here's what he did...

First, I think the reason I feel so good now is because he premedicated

me with morphine and numbing medicine prior to anesthesia....so....the

pain messages never got to my spine to tell my brain I was in pain! He

did my surgery with me in a standing position...anchored somehow to the

table. Nothing on my body hurts....not my neck, not my legs, nothing.

My stomach feels like I did a few too many crunches...that's all. THe

gas must be worked out because I don't even feel that any more. I

didn't know this was part of the surgery, but he stitched part of my

diaphram to shoulder muscles. I can vaguely feel that,,,excuse me,

COULD vaguely feel that, but not now. Yesterday in post op, I hurt a

little bit and they gave me more morphine and some antinausea stuff

because I told them that I was afraid I would get sick. It worked like

a charm..in just a few minutes...no pain, just a mild pressure in my

stomach. I could turn over myself and even sit up by myself. I was

back in the room about 4 hours after surgery. I slept a lot, woke up

about 4:00 and they asked me if I wanted more pain medicine. I said I

wasn't in pain, but didn't want to be, should I take it anyway? THey

said not to let it get bad, and let them know right away if I started

feeling pain. I felt like I was waiting for a shoe to drop....I didn't

feel any pain, and at 9:00 pm I fell asleep. They woke me up at 11 to

eat some iced cherry stuff, some jello and some broth. It went down

SOOOOOO easy. No pain. He told me today that he cut my sphincter as

high up as he could in a laparoscopy. I have not felt a spasm yet. I

have had some ice water and some cooled but still warm coffee and

soup...NOTHING!!! I didn't even have a nasal tube. He turned me upside

down briefly after the surgery but before he was finished, to test the

patency of the wrap. He said it looked great. I am sitting here on my

bed, first thing I did when I got home was come up here to write this.

I want you all to know that you were all " with me " yesterday when I went

into surgery. I had faith in God and my Doctor. I was never afraid. I

am so greatful. Oh, I left out the middle of the night walk around the

hospital corridors...I awoke at 4 am for vitals check, and decided I had

slept for 6 hours, I should get up and walk around. I walked probably

too far...got a little shaky, and went back to bed. I could feel the

gas had risen up higher around my shoulders and in my chest...it was

hard to take a deep breath. So, I broke down and asked for some lortab

and some antinausea stuff, thinking it might put me back to sleep. I

didn't sleep very well on that...I think it kinda wired me, but it did

stop the pain. THis morning about 9:30 I went for the same walk after

breakfast (YES!) and was not very woozy at all anymore. I had a slight

headache and decided I would take a straight tylenol for that. It still

didn't go away, but I knew a cup of coffee (caffeine) would chase it

totally off...I've had this headache before. I called my doctor's

office to ask if it was REALLY ok for me to have coffee....didn't want

to screw up a good thing, and my post op instructions mentioned nothing

about caffeine. They said fine...just not too hot. SOOOO...I did drink

a cup of coffee, and I had no reflux and my headache went away. I feel

truly blessed. I am going to have to remind myself that I am full of

stitches and that I have had major surgery, and to take it easy. It's

funny...my close friends know how great I am, but I am having to have a

little different story for work....I don't want to go back for two

weeks, as I know how stressful my job is, and I know I have been through

something that amounts to so much more than what it feels like. I hope

this gives anyone still sitting on the fence about surgery the courage

to go on with it. My doctor in Houston is Dr. Reardon...head of

noninvasive abdominal and chest surgery. He wears cowboy boots!

Hallelujah!

Love,

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Elena....I'm laying down right now...took some regular tylenol,

as it hurts a bit to cough up the crud I need to cough up out of my

lungs, but it's so bearable. I just had lunch!

[Guest guest]

I don't remember the bandages - the hospital should have given you the

telephone number of a PA or RN who will be charge of these things and you can

page them anytime if you have a problem.

[Guest guest]

I'm happy you sound so good - now we gotta send Ron our good wishes for

tomorrow.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Can you tell me more about your operation, exactly what they did. Did they

perform this lapriscoptically or the classic Heller Myotomy. Did they cut the

sphincter muscle only or up higher into the esophagus? Thanks, and congrats on

a new and better life.

-- (from Portland)

>>> lindwood@... 12/05/01 11:29AM >>>

Thanks, Elena....I'm laying down right now...took some regular tylenol,

as it hurts a bit to cough up the crud I need to cough up out of my

lungs, but it's so bearable. I just had lunch!

[Guest guest]

, I am so happy for you. This is great news

and I will follow you closely. I am going to keep the

name of this doctor handy, just in case.

Good luck Ron. My thoughts and prayers go with

you tomorrow.

Hugs to all,

Magg

[Guest guest]

,

He did my myotemy/fundoplication laparoscopically. He went as high

up as he could cut using a laparoscope. He told me I don't have

vigorous achalasia, as per my manometry...But I described some

" nutcracker " spasms in detail enough for him that I convinced him to cut

more than just the end of my sphincter. I think he said that he left

about 1/2 inch uncut. He peeled it all back, too, off the lumen. For

some reason, he also stitched part of my diaphram to my shoulder

muscles. I could feel that a little bit at first, but no longer. I'll

ask him why he did that when I see him in a week. I could feel it in

front of my armits, under the outer edges of my breasts. I should have

asked him why he did that, but I didn't think to do that til right after

he walked out. I knew you'd want to know!!! I have a partial wrap, and

so far, so good...no reflux...even after a cup of coffee that I drank

this am. to chase a headache. Take care. I hope you get some help

soon.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ron - I'm glad your doctor called you - my doc called me too before the

surgery - TLC is just as important as medicine. Warm regards, Elena

[Guest guest]

Ok, you myotemy veterans...a question for you...

DId you have the clear bandage that stays on for a week before you go

back to your doctor? If so, did you have much seepage? It says some is

normal, but I was wondering how long you had it.

[Guest guest]

Hello, . My bandages were more of a tape type thing. It stayed on for

about 2 weeks and then came off on their own, just like they were supposed

to. Some seepage is normal. My myotomy was a year ago and now I struggle to

keep the weight off. You made the right decision. Look forward to a great

Christmas meal.

Merry Christmas, !

Alan

Re: Achalasia and Me

> Ok, you myotemy veterans...a question for you...

> DId you have the clear bandage that stays on for a week before you go

> back to your doctor? If so, did you have much seepage? It says some is

> normal, but I was wondering how long you had it.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Go Ron! Go Ron! Go Ron! I wish you all the luck in the world. I'm

sore tonight, but I'm happy and it only hurts when I laugh or try to get

up from a sitting position...that " s not TOO bad, right? You'll be in my

prayers.

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much! I'm having trouble believing it! I'm not very hungry

yet...just eating a cup of soup at a time, or a bowl of oatmeal. It

feels kinda swollen down there...but it's GREAT. I don't have much

appetite back yet.

[Guest guest]

More tomorrow.....It will be day three...supposedly the hardest day.

Stay tuned. I seem to be getting more sore when I move, but still no

pain if I don't laugh or get up from sitting.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Magg,will let the room know how it goes ,God bless you all.

Re: Achalasia and Me

, I am so happy for you. This is great newsand I will follow you closely. I am going to keep thename of this doctor handy, just in case.Good luck Ron. My thoughts and prayers go withyou tomorrow.Hugs to all,Magg

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much ,lol, please dont me me laugh after the surgery ok? Take

care

Re: Achalasia and Me

> Go Ron! Go Ron! Go Ron! I wish you all the luck in the world. I'm

> sore tonight, but I'm happy and it only hurts when I laugh or try to get

> up from a sitting position...that " s not TOO bad, right? You'll be in my

> prayers.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks E Wagner Im just praying i have the results i read so much about on

here,Have a very good surgeon ,so all should go well .

Will let you know how I made out and who the surgeon in Maine is that is

doing the surgery in case there are any others contemplating surgery in

Maine.He called me tonight and asked how i was doing and told me not to

worry he would see me tomorrow and all will be well.I thought that was nice

,Again thanks E

Re: Achalasia and Me

> I'm happy you sound so good - now we gotta send Ron our good wishes for

> tomorrow.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

dave --

i am 22 and started having some of the same symptoms you have just under

two years ago. what really rang true for me was the beatles chord-type

pain: mine is the same way. wierd, isn't it....my achalasia progressed

very quickly and soon i was on a liquid diet. food would get stuck and

cause severe pain, but i can't belch or regurgitate (i haven't thrown up

in six or so years, possibly because my LES was too tightly closed, and

i've never been able to get the hang of belching on command). i had a

myotomy six months ago and though i am not 100% i am back on a fairly

normal diet and have pain soooo much less. the myotomy is generally

performed now in conjuntion with a " fundoplication, " which is a flap they

put over the opening to keep you from getting reflux. a fundoplication

is the same procedure that they use for people with plain old acid reflux

disease. i have not had huge problems with heartburn and the problems i

have had are much smaller than those i had before the surgery: all in

all, the myotomy was well worth it.

i know you've been dealing with this for years, so you've probably tried

everything, but here's what works for me:

-warm water. put a glass in the microwave for about a minute, till it's

not hot but very warm. i find that the warmth relaxes my esoph. and lets

it open. i use the water with meals and afterward to " flush " my esoph.

a heating pad on my chest helps sometimes too. i actually find that cold

things, like Coke, make my symptoms worse.

-avoidance of meat, especially red meat. fruit juice used to be a

problem (tho not anymore since my surgery). others to avoid: sticky

foods like raisins, brownies, some cheeses, peanut butter. i also had

problems with store-bought cookies, like teddy grahams or graham

crackers. foods that worked well for me: soups, cottage cheese, pastas,

mashed potatoes (try making them with some cream of chicken or cream of

broccolli condensed soup mixed in)...sometimes nothing would really go

down and i'd go on a liquid diet for a few days (lots of Carnation

Instant Breakfast, mixed with whole milk and some melted ice cream to up

the calorie content). then i'd try solids again and it would be easier.

hope this helps!

-katy

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- Glad, glad, glad your surgery went so well. Here's a little post-op

hint for dealing with pain, discomfort, sneezing, laughing, cats who might

want to jump on your stomach: get a bed pillow and hold it over your

abdomen at all times. When you feel a sneeze or a laugh coming on, gently

apply pressure. It's probably psychological, but it will keep you from

feeling your insides are going to fall out.

Carol

Re: Achalasia and Me

> More tomorrow.....It will be day three...supposedly the hardest day.

> Stay tuned. I seem to be getting more sore when I move, but still no

> pain if I don't laugh or get up from sitting.

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